`Kamaraj' has been dubbed in English as `Kingmaker.' The film will be released on August 15.

SHOWCASING SIMPLICITY: `Kingmaker'

Even when `Kamaraj' was first released in Tamil in early 2004, you cried yourself hoarse about the worth of the film that projects the life of a selfless man. But sadly neither Ramana Communications the producer, nor A. Balakrishnan the director, could smile their way to the bank.

An undeterred Balakrishnan now returns with a dubbed English version of `Kamaraj,' entitled `Kingmaker,' and plans to take it to the global audience.

`Kingmaker,' to be released on August 15, traces the history of our nation during the time of Kamaraj, and incidentally, touches upon the foibles of those in power then.

A few scenes that were not seen in the Tamil film have been included in `Kingmaker' you are told.

The man's sincerity and simplicity when he interacts with his mother, his urge to ensure that welfare schemes reached the deserving and his no-nonsense approach to issues have been movingly showcased.

So simple was the Kingmaker, as Kamaraj was known, that he never wore his honesty like a medal nor gained any political mileage out of it.

A treasure

G. K. Vasan who was present at the screening requested Balakrishnan to dub the film in all the Indian languages so that people in every nook and corner of the country would understand Kamaraj's greatness.

" `Kingmaker' is not just a film. It's a treasure," he remarked.

Special mention has to be made of M. S. Bhasker. The actor who did a marvellous job of dubbing for Richard Madhuram (Kamaraj) in the Tamil version repeats the feat in English.

The `Indianised' English and the errors in usage suit the milieu. It is only when even those playing highly qualified officers in the Government have a similar pronunciation and diction that a discordant note is struck.

`Kingmaker' is not the kind of film where you should look for technical finesse and CG wizardry. Scenes do end abruptly. Reactions are not always as forthright as they ought to be, or even right.

Yet it is an honest attempt  let's encourage it. Schools ought to make their students view such works, so that young minds do not lose faith in noble values.

Even in a corrupt political system, uprightness is possible. `Kingmaker' shows you how.